Sept.15th WT - WT Society uses Guilt & Fear to Avoid Friendship & Internet

by flipper 105 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  agonus

  The reason things are worse than the 80's is that in the 80s there was only one real "Satan incarnate"... Ray Franz. But Franz was just one man.

  But now, the whole WORLD is one big Ray Franz. What do the GB see when they look at the Internet? Ray Franz. What do they see when they look at the media? Ray Franz. What do they see when they look at entertainment? Ray Franz.

  But now the GB sees the face of Ray in every disinterested young person "pressured" to get an education. They see Ray in the elderly dubs who are tired and have put everything on hold because Armageddonwasrightaroundthecorner. They see Ray, potentially, in each other.

  And the scariest thing of all?

  They're seeing the face of Ray...

  in JESUS.

  No wonder they're paranoid!
• 

  BizzyBee

  delving into the " deep things of Satan " by means of the INTERNET

  Some will see a little wiggle room there. My JW aunt is on FB and other social networks. I'm sure she tells herself that the society is not referring to her use of the internet. Why, she's keeping up with family!

  The problem the WTS is creating for themselves is that the R & F can only be pushed so far - at some point the human mind begins to rationalize that their behavior is not in that forbidden category. "The Society doesn't have to worry about me using the internet - I don't go into porn sites."

  And that's another problem - the WTS cannot be terribly specific ("DO NOT RESEARCH Jehovah's Witnesses!") so the average witness thinks - "They're talking about porn."
• 

  agonus

  Talk about irony. We see Christ in the face of a Notorious Apostate, they see a Notorious Apostate in the face of Christ.

  Antichrist bottom-feeders.
• 

  nancy drew

  They are supposedly an organization designed by the creator of humanity but they have no understanding of human nature.

  people need to enjoy living to laugh, play be together the org is not even following the scriptures theres a time to laugh and skip about and embrace and it doesn't say there's only a time for work.
• 

  baltar447

  I just realized something. They are saying this because of all of the negative backlash from the Book Study being done away with. People feel like there isn't nearly as much warm social interaction because of the small groups going away, so apparently this is their answer.

  The beatings with continue until moral improves.
• 

  Magwitch

  Very interesting thread!

  My mother brought me the latest AWAKE on Lonliness. The society blames the internet for people being lonely. They said facebook, emailing (texting) etc. causes people to be lonlier than ever before (because there is no personal social interaction).

  So the internet causes lonliness, yet if you join their religion one cannot expect any personal social intereaction (unless of course you are going door to door to door). Yes, they certainly have all the answers for everything.
• 

  skeeter1

  Normal churches realize that people are social by nature. Normal churches encourage group outings, to have fun and enjoy wholesome fellowship binds the person to the group.

  Hmmm...when I "studied" in the 80s...it was more because I had a new friend(s). And, there were others who became "friends" in the Hall (as long as I didn't question the teachings, that is). We went to picnics and parties on a wide-congregation invite at least two to three times a year. It was so much fun. To go to a picnic with a baseball game, to go to a water park together, skating parties, and pool parties. It kept us together and allowed the kids to see socializing on a "normal" manner without smoking, drinking, cursing, etc. I have to say that these fun, informal congregation outings were the best part of being a JW. I mean, we were already deprived of all worldly fun (no holiday or birthday parties). At least these outings served a safe, fun outlet.

  My stll-in family members were all sad to see the book study end. It was a close group and allowed for more intimate socialization. My father's congregation is always having parties, even themed parties...his favorite is the "men cook" where the men have to each cook a dish.

  But, remember a few years ago there was a blurb in a Watchtower publication about the host's responsibility to make sure the party has Christian-type themes and to stear the convesation towards honoring Jehovah, His Organization, and even suggested Kingdom Melodies be played? Anyone have this article?

  I guess that article didn't work, so now the Society is saying, "No Get-to-Gethers".

  WATCHTOWER SOCIETY = HIGH CONTROL RELIGION CULT
• 

  WingCommander

  Good points, Skeeter1.

  I grew up in the 1980's, and I only remember (1) picnic my family went to when I was about 4. We were never invited to one again, and I never heard of them anymore after that either. I was in for the first 18-19 years of life or so, and I was never invited over to anyone's house, never went to a JW party or movie, was never invited to ANYTHING...no weddings, no high school graduations. No wonder I was depressed as a teenager.

  How can they claim to have Jehovah God's blessing and Jesus spirit when they pull crap like this? These type of rules create total nutcases in my opinion.

  CULT.

  - Wing Commander
• 

  Meeting Junkie No More

  I'll wade in and give my experience. I have hosted my fair share of congregation get-togethers over the years, and always did it out of a real joy in seeing so many have a great day out. At the last 'congregation' picnic I planned, I was warned not to call it the 'congregation' picnic, as it was on my property. The mere name, apparently, could incur legal liability upon the congregation if any injury occurred. Elder's wives wondered if I had enough insurance (?!!?) Anyhow, they took the joy right out of it for me. Such a legalistic organization; no semblance of Christianity anywhere and it seems to be getting worse each year.

  One of the biggest complaints I hear out of all single witnesses that I know is that there is absolutely NOTHING for them; not even a lonely hearts club! They go to meetings and come home dejected and miserable, real cognitive dissonance when you keep hearing how JWs are supposedly the happiest people on earth. There is NOTHING ELSE for them to look forward to, other than meetings, ministry, repeat ad nauseum. In fact, one of the few witnesses who still talk to me confided that her Bible study, who is Catholic, has a completely full social calendar including teas at Church, card games, outings etc. She's therefore somewhat reluctant to bring this 'happy' person into a religion that offers NOUGHT!
• 

  WingCommander

  MeetingJunkieNoMore:

  Yeah, I gotta agree with your friend's Catholic study. They DO have a busy schedule filled with wonderful, uplifting, social-Christian functions that bring the congregation together and keep them interested in their religion, one way or another. This is also how they get others interested in their faith. I know it sure peaked my interest when I started dating a nice Catholic girl when I was 20. The outright respect and open family atmosphere that they showed towards me, UNCONDITIONALLY really hit a nerve with me. In some ways, they were so much better then my own family, so much more open and less stressful. They all went to Catholic school, and both her parents taught at the school. I'll never forget that. I spoke to an Elder I trusted about our issues, and hoping that she would become interested in the JW's if he (an Elder) would be willing to sit down with her priest and discuss religious differances. That way, she could see we have "The Truth". When he outright refused, a gigantic red flag went off in my head about how odd that was, and what was he afraid of??? It took more research on my own to help get me through the maze of lies I had been brought up in.

  At the time, I was just coming to grips with the Lie that I was brought up in, and hence they tried their damnest to get me out out of the JW's. I didn't listen, I was stubborn and headstrong, and indoctinated. We loved each other immensely, but could not get over the religious aspects. We broke up. I can only hope to see her again some day so I can thank her for at least getting me to start questioning.

  - Wing Commander